THE EAST TENNESSEE VETERANS MEMORIAL

The Memorial is a public plaza with a formal arrangement of granite pillars bearing the names of 6,222 fallen heroes from 35 East Tennessee counties who died in military service during named conflicts since World War I. It was dedicated and officially unveiled November 15, 2008.
The names of the 14 Medal of Honor recipients from East Tennessee are inscribed and honored on the reverse side of the pillars. Quotations related to the wars and national service offer an occasion for reflection and meditation. A bell tower tolls for those lost, and for the four essential freedoms we honor and defend. Major support for the Memorial has come from Knox County, the City of Knoxville, the State of Tennessee, the Federal Government, and hundreds of private individuals, businesses, and groups.

Annual commemorative events are held at the Memorial on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. On Memorial Day, the “Reading of the Names” of all soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen commemorated on the Memorial is held, typically beginning near dawn.

Among other recent activities, the Memorial was the site of a public visitation for the Knoxville interment of legendary Marine Corps officer and Medal of Honor recipient Alexander (Sandy) Bonnyman, whose remains were finally located on Betio, Tarawa Atoll, in summer 1943, 72 years after his death in combat in November 1943, and several events in connection with the National Medal of Honor Convention in September 2014.